Diagnosing Computer Hardware Faults

When your PC goes wrong and you lost all hope the normal final stage is to reformat your computer and start afresh. This will probably solve any software problems, remove viruses or other nasties and give you a clean start. But what happens if you've already formatted and the problem still exist?

That means most likely you have a hardware failure. This is where problems can begin.

Diagnose a computer hardware failure can be a right pain as the computer components may cause. Unless you intend to replace the whole machine, you must carefully diagnose which components of the fault lies with.

We would recommend you look at the computer in these key areas to analyze.

• Memory / RAM
• Power Supply
• Hard Disk
• Motherboards

This isn't a complete final list, of course depending on your problem i.e. if your problem is that you do not sound so it could be a soundcard problem, in the same way, if you do not get a screen so graphics could be the culprit. If it is a random error as either of the above could be the cause.

Memory - this is fortunately quite easy to diagnose. Search the web for a memory tester. Generally these can be included on a CD (or floppy if you are stuck in the past!) Boot up from CD, then into memory tests. This will constantly cycle through the testing of memory error. It is wise to leave this for several hours or even better overnight. It will advise you if memory fails.

Power Supply - it may be a strange one. People generally assume that if the power supply does not fail so you would get some life from your computer at all. This sometimes is not true. We had computers, turn off at random times, your computers have the power light on but no boot, etc, and it has proved to be delivery - we recommend this should be one of the first things to try which can be a problematic area. Test it can be difficult without the right equipment. Really the only way to get a volt tester and check voltage and current that comes out.

Hard Disk - this may be one of the worst problems that have so if your disk is not, unless you have been sensible and made regular backups of your most valuable data you stand to lose everything. Hard drives can go anytime and usually you will hear a harsh sounding clicking noise coming from your computer. If so you should probably replace the hard disk. Get someone who knows what they are doing here to try and restore your old data for you.

If none of the above solves your problem then you could perhaps look at the fault being with the motherboard or other plug in cards or devices you have. Remove everything possible to leave only very basic. Remove all sound cards etc and all other PCI devices that are not essential. If you have more than one stick of ram let in only one and see if the problem resolves.

Really, resolve hardware problems comes down to a case of trial and error here so take your time to test everything out. Remember that even if your keyboard or mouse is defective, very strange things can happen to a computer, so if you can, try to remove and test each item.